1) The Convention Center can be marketed to various trade associations for small to medium trade shows and seminars, as well as local events (gun shows?) It will also be available for any other local event, like weddings, graduations, etc.

2) The WNMU swimming pool project, with the added heated pool (and perhaps a water slide for kids) will be available to everyone in Grant County.

3) With no movie theater here now, kids have to go to Deming to see a first-run movie! Such a multiplex movie facility here (which could attract more businesses, like restaurants) would go a long way to provide our young people a reason to stay home on weekends!

4) Bataan Park baseball field improvements would assure not only the return of WNMU baseball, but also provide high school and Little League teams with state-of-the art playing facilities.

5) Improvements to the Municipal Golf Course benefit not only local golfers, but also our visitors. We know that Washington D.C. and Santa Fe cannot offer any help. For any improvements in Grant County, we need to do it ourselves!

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The nice thing about a Gross Receipts Tax is that everyone here -- or visiting from elsewhere -- pays their 0.25 percent tax. This is a quarter tax on a $100 purchase.

According to Alex Brown, Silver City manager, residents pay about 60 percent of this tax, while visitors pay about 40 percent.

For Grant County, Silver City and environs--This is a "no brainer" in my opinion. Please vote "yes."

If you, Gen, are concerned about "the killing of a fetus" - stop eating eggs. And, if you are against abortions, be assured, no one will force you to have one.

If you are against gay marriage, don't do it. No pastor ever has been or ever will be forced to perform a gay marriage.

If you want to use the "N" word, help yourself. Unless you live in a gated white community, you can expect to be treated with "scorn and shame" because the rest of the world around you has learned how much ugliness was contained it that word as it was used, mostly in the south.

If you had ever been called "white trash" you might have understood something of the pain they suffered. If you are bothered by a black rapper using the "N" word, don't listen to rap.

If you stopped listening only to Fox News you would have learned the IRS was not "spying", they were checking 501c applications who are not allowed to be political in their work. If you Googled you would find, "Further investigation revealed that certain terms and themes in the applications of liberal-leaning groups and the Occupy movement had also triggered additional scrutiny." And "Fast and Furious" was created by your Bush.

Our president's "agenda" does not "force" dependency on the government for basic human needs - the raping of our economy by giant corporations continues to cause job loss, loss of homes, and Republicans are in lock-step, by forever voting "no", from day one of Obama's election.

Lastly, the separation of religion is to protect religions from being controlled by the government, and it your right to worship as you see fit.

Edy Lou Benjamin

Silver City

Mental health groups

denied due process

I understand behavioral health in NM, having provided services in Dona Ana County since 1982. What is happening now, to 15 agencies, is beyond my comprehension.

It appears that Gov. Martinez and her administration have decided to outsource services. Without any due process, these agencies are not able to defend themselves against "credible allegations of fraud." Currently, these agencies are being forced to stop services due to lack of funds, and only then do the Arizona agencies begin to recruit staff, rent the agencies' buildings, and reportedly, resume services. Therapists and other employees face the dilemma of accepting positions promised for only 90 days with reduction in benefits. Many will seek positions elsewhere, further decimating the fragile safety net of services.

If, as the state is alleging, there are problems with management and within some of the agencies, then the boards of directors of these agencies need disclosure of the specific allegations, so that they may take personnel action. Releasing this information should not jeopardize any further criminal investigations. Auditors already have copies of agency records.

I was a therapist at Southwest Counseling Center and Southern New Mexico Human Development, later serving as clinical director and forensic evaluator at SNMHD. I was a prison psychologist and private practitioner prior to retirement. I am a Vietnam veteran, awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for developing the Psychological Testing and Evaluation Unit for the first Naval Drug Rehabilitation Center. I have also developed and directed a child treatment center and a crisis intervention unit in Florida.

My professional association with our governor, Susana Martinez, has been a positive and rewarding relationship since the 1980s, due to our shared advocacy for children and crime victims. However, in this situation, the administration's strategies are clearly misguided and not remedial. Our citizens deserve better.